president obama also today nominated massachusetts senator john kerry to replace hillary clinton as secretary of state. the president said kerry's life has prepared him for this role. kerry served two tours in vietnam. he's been in the senate since 1985 and he chairs the foreign relations committee. in 2004, you'll recall, he lost the presidency to george w. bush. it has been a week since the school shootings in connecticut, and in newtown, they marked that moment today. (bells ringing) church bells rang 26 times for the 20 first graders and six adults killed at sandy hook elementary school. the gunman's mother was also killed. the scene was repeated all across the country-- including at the white house. the national rifle association broke its silence today following the newtown tragedy. the executive vice president of the n.r.a., wayne laperriere, said that schools would be safer if they were protected with guns. here's chip reid. >> reporter: wayne laperriere gave no ground to gun control advocates who want to ban assault weapons and magazines that hold more than ten rounds. instead, he sh